JAMIE Murray secured his place in a third consecutive grand slam final after he and partner Bruno Soares beat French pair Adrian Mannarino and Lucas Pouille at the Australian Open.

Murray lost at the last hurdle with former partner John Peers at both Wimbledon and the US Open last year, but the Scot now has the chance to go one step further as he and Soares sealed a 6-3 6-1 victory.

They will now face either Canada's Daniel Nestor and Czech Radek Stepanek or Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas and Spaniard Marcel Granollers, with the other semi-final playing later on Thursday.

Murray linked up with Brazilian Soares after splitting with Peers at the end of last season and the duo have enjoyed an excellent start together, winning their first title in Sydney earlier this month and now earning the chance to clinch a second in Melbourne.

"I'm starting to get the hang of this game I think," Murray said.

"I've been lucky I've had a great partner in the last few years in John Peers and now I'm starting a new journey here with Bruno.

Murray could be the first of three British players making the final at the first major tournament of the year, as his brother Andy and Johanna Konta are both in the last four of the singles.

Andy Murray takes on Canada's Milos Raonic on Friday while Konta is up against German Angelique Kerber later on Thursday.

It is the first time Britain has boasted three players in the semi-finals of three separate events at a grand slam since 1935.

"Who'd have thought it? Someone must be doing something right back in the UK," Jamie Murray said.

"Andy as been doing amazing things for a long time and what Jo has done this week has been quite unbelievable.

"I hope she performs as well in the semis. Hopefully they can do their best and reach their final.

"Who'd have thought three British players would be in a grand slam semi-final? It's a pretty amazing thought."

Jamie Murray plays a backhand (Image: Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Mannarino and Pouille had previously knocked out top seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau - the pair who beat Murray and Peers in last year's Wimbledon final - but they were outclassed on Rod Laver Arena.

Soares had to save two break points on his serve early on but that was as much as the French pair could muster as Murray and Soares broke to love at 3-2 and comfortably served out the set.

The second set was even more straight-forward as Murray and Soares clinched three breaks to lead 5-1 before confirming their victory in 56 minutes.